Cole Hamels: Realizing a dream

Achieving a team goal is the most satisfying

You always dream about that last out in the World Series, and we're fortunate enough to realize that. I was on the top step of the dugout with everyone else when we got that final out and I'll never forget it.

Winning the World Series is almost a relief. You play 162 games and however many more in the postseason. We've worked hard, we've won, and finally we've reached the goal we set out for ourselves at the beginning of the year. It's a relief. Your heart races, then there's a calming moment because you went out there and did what you set out to do.

I'm especially happy for Jamie Moyer, considering the kind of career he's had and the type of person he is. It's truly wonderful for him to finally have this moment after so many years. He was playing baseball before I was born. For him to get this and contribute to that big win -- that sums it up for a grand career.

Then there's guys like Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins who've been here through the tough times. So it's great to see them get this chance to celebrate, especially Pat. This was the last year of his contract, so you don't know where he's going to be. Hopefully, he'll be with us because he's such a great asset on our team.

Jimmy is Jimmy. He works so hard. He's been able to take this city by storm and win something. The city will always remember players like him who come through the hard times and finally bring a championship.

As for my season and winning the World Series MVP, I guess good things happen when you're healthy. That's why my main goal every year, when I come here, is to stay healthy and stay in shape so I can go out there and, I guess, get an award for something I was able to do!

Seriously, I've always been someone to hold on to memories. I've never really kept trophies, but this kind of trophy is something special. Now maybe I'm going to have to get a trophy case. This will be on our mantle for a long time. It will provide for a good story for our kids, our family, our neighbors and friends.

But, really, the World Series trophy that I share with my teammates -- the guys who got all the hits and supported me all season -- is far more important to me. That was the reason we came out to the field and worked so hard every day.

To top off the celebration, it was my wife's birthday today, too. I think she's just excited for the moment. She's a baseball fan. She knows and understands the game, so she had a great moment that made her birthday a little more special. This will probably be a birthday celebration she'll never forget -- at least I won't forget it.

Then there are our fans. I've known the Philadelphia fans are great since the moment I arrived here, but this year they were something special. They never let up. They were there every day for us. Coming out and supporting us, even when the economy isn't going well, when it's cold, when it's wet, when it's hot in the middle of the summer. They stuck by us 100 percent. This is a great day for the whole city.

Cole Hamels went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA over five postseason starts in 2008, including 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his two World Series starts, to win the MVP award for both the NL Championship Series and World Series. He was 14-10 with a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts during the regular season.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.